When i taught, i used this thing called the Socratic Method. WHen done right, it involved posing a question and then allowing the voices around me to discuss. Occasionally, you pose another question. And another–if done well, you don’t even really voice your opinion. Now–i was hardly successful on that level–but i did my utmost to hear the voices around me–allowing their opnions to shape mine, as i hope they did too.

Was it free of contention? hardly. I was teaching teens afterall–and who knows drama more than a 16 year-old. Am i wrong?

But that was my job–to keep them from killing one another and to maybe even LISTEN to one another. Because i was helping them grow and mature.

And you do that not by gaining years in life, but by gaining knowledge and experience.

Our community–our AUtism community–seem to be in those teen drama years. I don’t mean we’ve only been around that long–but that this seems to be the level of growth we are at.

And I, for one can tell you the teen years are ROUGH. Both on the teen and non-teen.

now, someone in our community might come across this and think i am doggin our own.

Au Contraire. I am pleased to see it–as uncomfortable as it is. It means we are growing, people. GROWING.

I wonder if others in the SPecial Needs community look on us and say–“remember when we were there?” I also wonder if they could give us any guidance.

’cause that’s where we are–without guidance. And it’s getting a little “Lord of the Flies” if you ask me.

So, imma sit back and try to observe, try not to let my emotions get the best of me (although when i do i get the most page views…) and maybe interject a question or two.

And hold off forming an opinion until i’ve gained as much knowledge and experience as i can…

Yep. Totally agree. Thing is, I think people are forgetting one salient point: no matter what we all believe as far as autism goes, I think deep down, we all have the same goal–to help our children in the best way we know how. I think if we could focus on THAT instead of all the semantics and differences of opinions, we’d be waaaaay better off!

It has gotten kray kray, that is for sure. I am just focusing on doing what I need to do for my kid, and wiping it all away with the start of a new week. Otherwise…I’ll be in a room with padded walls real quick.

Thank goodness you didn’t say anything controversial, because there’s no telling what might have happened.

I’ve stockpiled canned goods, water, and flashlight batteries, and have holed up in a bunker in an undisclosed location. Just waiting for the hoopla to die down, and thinking about rainbows and unicorns.

If you could just hum Bohemian Rhapsody, I’ll consider that the “all clear” sign and come out.

I am going into a self regulated time out from March 30th – May 1st. Only peeking out for free Autism goodies like apps and books.

One of my friends was just saying yesterday that she wishes “we” (autism parents) where more like the (parents who have children who happen to have Down Syndrome). They go to each other IEP meetings and are so supportive. They also have a meeting once a month with mimosas. They are even classier than us and our Starbucks meetups.

I know why. Wanna know? Because DS moms here? Aren’t all doing something different. They aren’t all doing different therapies and different treatments and etc, etc, etc. The autism parents here are all getting something different from teh SD and I swear they don’t want anyone to know for fear of getting that taken away. It’s bullshit.Of course, I’ve got my little select group of peeps…

I’m feeling the need to complete the song! Haha!
I’ll refrain and just say that I agree! I think, in any group, there’s a period of confusion where no one knows what the hell, and there are no right answers. It helps to have mature, level headed people to make decisions, but sometimes you have to weed out the riff raff first. Good luck!!